Today is Africa Freedom Day. But what does that mean to Africans today? Since I’ve not had a chance to ask this question to my Africans friends, I can only answer this for myself. And I am one of those people who sparks debate. I call myself Zambian, African. My soul and my being is Zambian. I was born in Zambia to my Zambian father and British mother. I moved to the UK at 18. I have a British passport. Whether I ever get the chance to have dual nationality or not, Zambia feels like home to me. That is just how it is. So what does Africa Freedom Day mean me?
Today is a day that Africans should remember for the right reasons. Many will enjoy this 2011 Africa Freedom Day as a day off. It will be packed full with family lunches, brais (bbq’s) and fun times. After all that is what you do on public holidays. But let us not forget that today marks the creation of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU). Heads of State in the 1960s had a common vision of unity and decided to work together to achieve independence from colonisation as well as liberation, justice, equality and progress.
Today we should celebrate the achievements made by various African leaders on the founding of the new African Union (AU), and NEPAD, a program of the African Union. The principles of the African Union are its commitment to the peaceful settlement of disputes, economic and social development, respect for human rights, the protection of all Africans and the fight against oppression. Together organisations like the AU and NEPAD work toward developments for the African continent that aim to ensure this is Africa’s time. Potentially, this is Africa’s time. There is a renewed interest in Africa and we have a rich continent. We are achieving higher and higher levels of education and the time is ripe with opportunities. But it comes down to the African people to support organisations like the AU and NEPAD. As Africans we must take action. Action against war, corruption, human rights violations and the negativity that seems to have crept in to the minds of some Africans. Let’s move away from moaning and blame. Let’s take responsibility and take action. We all have a role to play in making our Africa into the continent it can be.
I am reminded of a song called Africans by Nneka, the Nigerian/German singer.
You keep pushing the blame on our colonial fathersYou say they came and they took all we had posessedThey have to take the abuse that they have caused our present state with their intruding historyUse our goodness and nourishment in the name of missionaryLied to us, blinded, slaved us, misplaced us, strengthened us, hardened us thenthey replaced us now we got to learn from painNow it is up to us to gain some recognitionIf we stop blaming we could get a better condition
Wake up world!!Wake up and stop sleepingWake up africa!!Wake up and stop blamingOpen ur eyes!!Stand up and riseRoad block oh life penalty
Why do we want to remain where we startedAnd how long do we want to stop ourselves from thinkingWe should learn from experience that what we are here for this existenceBut now we decide to use the same hatred to oppress our own brothersIt is so comfortable to say racism is the causebut this time it is the same colour chasing and biting usKnowledge and selfishness that they gave to us, this is what we use to abuse us
Wake up world!!Wake up and stop sleepingWake up Africa!!Wake up and stop blamingOpen ur eyes!!Stand up and riseRoad block oh life penaltyThose who have ears let them hear
Brothers who are not brainwashed takt ruins and restPick them up and stick them back togetherThis is the only way we can change this African weatherLied to us, blinded, slaved us, misplaced us, strengthened us, hardened us thenthey replaced us now we got to learn from pain
Wake up world!!Wake up and stop sleepingWake up Africa!!Wake up and stop blamingOpen ur eyes!!Stand up and riseRoad block oh life penalty
You got to wake up pleaseYouuuuu got tooo(Wake up africa wake up and stop blaming)Blaming ha ha haOpen yours eyes your eyesStand up and riseRoad block oh life penaltyWake up…
If you like this post then ‘like’ thebestofzambia.com facebook page for regular updates and/or follow us on Twitter. Or even join our mailing list.